New cereal introduced to UK market

Tritordeum, a new natural cereal made by combining durum wheat (Triticum durum) and wild barley (Hordeum chilense), is now available in the UK.

Tritordeum has health benefits and a low environmental impact, according to Etienne Vassiliadis, business development manager at Agrasys, the company that has developed the cereal.

When tested on those with a gluten intolerance (rather than coeliacs), the crop was not found to produce any ill effects.

The cereal’s flavour is sweeter than a normal bread crop, and could be a useful tool when addressing new government-imposed sugar level rules, suggested Vassiliadis.

Tritordeum has taken more than 30 years to develop – no genetic modification (GM) is involved in the process, making it a natural cultivated species, said Vassiliadis.

He added that it is suitable for a wide range of cereal products, “and for the manufacture of innovative products, thanks to its qualities and functionalities that are not found in other cereals. Tritordeum products stand out for their flavour, aroma and attractive golden yellow colour.”

In terms of agronomy, Vassiliadis said Tritordeum requires less fertiliser than other crops, and is robust with a good level of resistance to pathogens. It has a high resistance to heat and drought, and produces similar yields to durum wheat.